A UN expert said on Wednesday that the wife of Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan is being detained in conditions that could seriously jeopardize her physical and emotional well-being.
The UN special rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, Alice Jill Edwards, called on the Pakistani government to act quickly to resolve the issue.
In January, Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were found guilty of graft and given prison terms of 14 and 7 years, respectively.
Additionally, a Pakistani court sentenced them to 17 years in prison on Saturday for corruption regarding gifts the imprisoned former premier received while in office.
In a case involving alleged underpricing of state gifts, Khan and Bibi were sentenced to ten years in jail for criminal breach of trust and seven years for corruption.
“The state has an obligation to protect Mrs. Khan’s health and ensure conditions of detention compatible with human dignity,” Edwards stated in a press release.
According to Edwards, Bibi is confined to a tiny, unclean cell that is frequently dark because of power outages.
“Such conditions fall far below minimum international standards,” stated Edwards.
“No detainee should be exposed to extreme heat, contaminated food or water, or conditions that aggravate existing medical conditions.”
According to reports, she frequently spends more than 22 hours a day in almost complete seclusion.
“The authorities must ensure Mrs. Khan has the possibility to communicate with her lawyers and receive visits from family members, and have meaningful human contact throughout her detention,” Edwards stated.
Bibi’s predicament has been formally brought up with the Islamabad administration by the special rapporteur.
The Human Rights Council appoints independent experts to serve as UN special rapporteurs. They don’t represent the UN as a whole.
Edwards claimed earlier this month that Khan was being held in circumstances that might constitute to torture and other cruel or inhumane treatment.
She pleaded with the Pakistani officials to make sure the 73-year-old’s prison conditions adhered to international standards.
In 2018, Khan, who led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup, became prime minister, upending Pakistani politics.
After losing favor with the military, he was removed in 2022 by a vote of no confidence.
Since August 2023, the former cricket player has been detained and accused in numerous cases that he says have political motivations.
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